| lder adults hospitalized for cancer surgery are at risk for decline in functional status, yet are understudied in cancer research. The specific aims of this study were to: (1) Describe the number of symptoms of a sample of older adults after surgery for cancer of the digestive system, thorax, gynecologic, and genitourinary sites over time, (2) Describe the functional status of a sample of older adults after surgery for cancer of the digestive system, thorax, gynecologic, and genitourinary sites over time, and (3) Describe and compare the relationship of age of the sample of older adults after surgery for cancer of the digestive system, thorax, gynecologic, and genitourinary sites to changes in functional status by demographic, biologic, psychological, and treatment variables over time.;The study design was a retrospective analysis using secondary data from five cohorts of subjects ages 65 and over enrolled in longitudinal clinical trials of nursing interventions in cancer patients. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses as well as multiple linear regression analysis using General Estimating Equations (GEE) explored relationships over time. The results showed that fatigue was the most prevalent symptom over time. Expected number of symptoms was unrelated to age category, and decreased over time (p<0.001). Those with digestive system, thorax, gynecologic site cancers suffered from increased number of symptoms compared to those with genitourinary site cancers (p<0.001). Change in expected functional status was unrelated to age, but significantly improved over time (p<0.001). Subjects with gynecologic site cancers experienced a significantly decreased expected functional status compared to those with genitourinary site cancers (p=0.047). After controlling for demographic, biologic, psychological, and treatment factors, results showed that thorax cancer (p=0.030), annual income of... |
